"Holy shit. What took so long?" I can't believe Mandy's had to be tied to that douchewaffle all this time. He left her right before our reunion concert.
She folds her arms over her chest. "Money. Of course, money. He wanted half of everything I've ever made, plus half the royalties from ‘Please Say Yes,’ not to mention alimony and child support."
"Child support? The kids live with you!"
"You see why it took so long."
"Plus, he didn't earn that money. How did you even explain it to him in the first place?"
Mandy shrugs, keeping an eye on the theater door for her daughter to come out. "It was in a trust, so he actually couldn't get any of it. The kids are the beneficiaries, which explains the custody thing. He thought if he was their guardian, he could have it."
"Yeah, but didn't he ever ask where it came from?"
"I told him I came into it. He thought I meant from like my grandparents, and I didn't correct him. I had my accountant do the taxes and everything, so he never really looked. Honestly, he had no idea. I mean, not until Angie announced it during that performance."
"I still can't believe he never knew you were famous."
She laughs. "Yeah, well, have you noticed that people don't recognize us like they once did? Or that if we're not wearing stupid ears and tails, they don't see us?"
"I've been using that to my advantage since right after the reunion."
Mandy cocks her head. "Yeah, but is that really you, Tabby?"
"You did it. You totally disappeared from fame. If it weren't for Callie, you'd still be flying under the radar."
"But that was me. And you're not me. And, if I'm honest, I wasn't truly happy like that either."
"Are you happy now?" I look my friend up and down. She looks happy. Her weight is healthy. Her hair has shiny highlights. Her clothes are neat. Her cheeks have a glow to them.
I attribute the glow to Ben, who has just walked out with Tenley.
Whether Mandy wants to admit it or not, she and Ben are head over heels for each other. I mean, who waits like this?
I can't even get Henderson to look my way.
No, I will not give him any more room in my brain.
It's so much easier when I know I'm just using people for sex. At least I have no expectations.
I was stupid to have expectations.
But at least I'm back to performing.
God, I'm going to perform again. My name will be in lights.
Okay, not really, because The Edison doesn't have a marquee or anything, and I'm not even the star. I'd be like eighth or ninth billing.
Maybe I should buy them a marquee.
Maybe it's time to get active on social media again.
Should I call my publicist? Sure, I'd let Rachel go years ago, but she could always come back. Maybe Gayle knows someone better. An assistant at least to handle postings and whatnot. And then …
I derail my own train of thought.
Nothing's changed.
I can't be out there, because of Paisley.
